Drawer of a vertical type for indexing and classifying



Aug. l5, 1939.. l l LOMBARDlNl 2,169,562

DRAWER oF A VERTICAL TYPE RoR INDEXING AND cLAssIFYING Filed Jan. 25.1957 Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES DRAWER OF A VERTICAL TYPEv FORINDEXING AND CLASSIFYING Luigi Lombardini, Turin, Italy ApplicationJanuary 25, 1937, Serial No. 122,177 In Italy January 27, 1936 2 Claims.

The object of the present invention is the introduction of improvementsin drawers, of a Vertical type, for indexing and classifying madealready known in a United States Patent No. 1,918,765 and a previousItalian patent by the same petitioner under No. 279,387 and Italianpatent of Addition No. 303,030 relating thereto.

Under the said main patent and patent of addition relating thereto, thedrawer for indexing contains a certain number of specialdistancingpartitions which are connected in a detachable manner, bymeans of suitable devices, with the bottom of the drawer and in theirhigher part lean against each other by means of special supports whichare applied to the lateral, or top, ends of each distancing-partition.As the projection of the said supports is practically equal to thedistance between the distancing-partitions at the spot where they areconnected with the bottom of the drawerfit follows that the saidpartitions are parallel and form as many interchangeable compartments ofa constant and comparatively small capacity.

The greater length of thetop part of the drawer in relation to the lowerpart where the distancingpartitions are connected allows of the latterleaning forward and backward so as to form wherever desired an angle ofaperture which facilitates the removal or the placing of documents, ortheir examination.

The above has the object of sectioning, or subdividing,-as alreadymentioned-the whole volume of the index le in so many compartments, of aiiXed capacity, comparatively a small one, and whose partitions, whilesupporting each other, support also each its own contents of cards ordocuments, keeping them always in a normal position and distributing thefriction among the respective distancing-partitions.

In order that the invention referred to in the said Italian patents maywork eiciently, it is necessary that from the beginning each drawer befilled up with as many distancing-partitions as it can bear; becauseeach of them must serve as a support for the next one. This device findsits best application whenever it is a question of classifying elements(cards) of a uniform thickness, particularly thin ones, which require tobe sub-divided as much as possible, with the possibility of rapiddisplacements (interchangeability) of the compartments formed by thedistancingpartitions.

In the present case, instead of a classification of elements having anunequal and comparatively greater thickness (heavy cards, files), andwhere an easy interchangeability among the various compartments is notstrictly necessary, it is useful to be able to sub-divide .the volume ofthe drawer (index) in such a number of comparte ments as may begradually required,-compara 5 tively larger ones,-even if of differentcapacities, but always in a parallel manner.

, The improvements forming the object of this invention allow of acomplete attainment of the above results, as appears better from thespeciil0 cation which follows:

In the drawers, object of the present, the distancing elements of thepartitions, instead of bef ing 'borne by the partitions themselves areborne by the drawers sides and bottom.

The annexeddrawing illustrates, as an example without restrictions, achosen form of execution of the invention. In the said drawing, in whichthe same indications of reference apply to the same parts:

Fig. l is a vertical section through the drawer forming the object ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial View, in transverse section, showing how adivisional element, or diaphragm, is connected with the correspondinglateral distancing-element of the index-drawer and with the distancingslot and respective central guide at the bottom of the drawer;

Fig. 3 is a partial View, in transverse section, along a lateraldistancing-element of the drawer and the respective checking and glidingchannel guide;

Fig. 4 illustrates, in perspective, the type of lateraldistancing-element considered in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; l

Fig. 5 is a view, in perspective, illustrating a part of the bottom anda lateral wall of a drawer bearing `distancing elements of the typereferred to in Fig. 6;

Figs. 6 and 7M illustrate respectively, in perspec- 40 tive, some chosentypes of distancing elements.

As appears from the drawing, to each of the side walls l of the indexingdrawer is appropriately fixed a proper guide, or channel 2, disposed asis shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 5.

In the said guides, or channels 2, (one for each wall), are inserted thedistancing elements of the devised shape, Figs. 3, 4 and 5, in a smallernumber, however, than that of the said elements which could be containedin the guides, in order 50 to allow of their gliding along the saidguides for the purposes mentioned hereinafter.

The said distancing elements are constituted by a base 6, of anappropriate shape, for instance having a square, rectangular, orcircular 55 section, bearing a projection (3 or 4 or 5), of

Various forms and dimension. These projections Vserve for supporting,and therefore guiding, the

ends II of the partition when inclining forward or backward-as `will beseen hereinafter,-and take up its 'various positions'dig.V 1) the said Yprojection is mounted so as to turn on its base- Fig. 3. K Y

The bottom of the drawer is provided with several slots 81, 82 814, orthelike, in a number corresponding to that of the distancing ele-Vments, and such slots are adapted to receive and withhold, in the mannerknown, bymeans of central pin 9, (or other Vsimilar device) partitions'I.

f The distance between slots 81, 82 814, must be equal'to that betweenthe'respective distancing elements containedgin arnurnber equal'to thatof thesaid slots.

The total length of guides 2 being greater than that vformedby slots 8of the bottom of theY drawer' allows `the distancing elements to glideforward and backward dragging with them the respective partitions 'I bymeans of their ends II and causing themrto pivot around their points ofVconnection with slots 8 so as'to form, where desired, a certain angleVof aperture for the easy removal, or placing, of documents orY of theirexamination'.

When preparing the indexing drawer and by degrees, as it isdesired tosubdivide it into more compartments', the partition (or the partitions)I are introduced into the proper slotf8. At the same time, ends II ofpartition I are set in the space formed-between,projections 4 or-5 ofthe distancing elements in relationto slot Y8in the caseY of the typeillustrated byY Figs. 5, 6Y and "I,k orY inf slots I2'of distancingelements in relation to ther corresponding slot 8 in the 4case of thetype illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

In the case of pro- 1 Y 'Ihe greater length of guides 2 in respect tothe y total length of the drawer bottom allows of the easy displacementforward and backward of the distancing elements contained therein, whilebuffers III made of rubber, or of a similar substance,

deaden their shocks against the front or back of the indexing drawer.V

VAt'the same time, they drag or push in their movements partitions VIVby, means of `their edges Il leaning properly on projections 4 or 5,-or

/set in slot I2 of projections S-of the respective l distancingelements. YThe said partitions I will thus assume the desiredinclination forward or backward remaining, however, for the objects Y vaimed at byythe invention, always parallel with similarly positionedpartitions. j

The forms of execution illustrated and, described are susceptible kofall such variations and modications of construction as come within thescope of `this invention, asV shown by the following claims.A

' l What I Claim and ydesire to secure by Letters Patentis y Y A,

1. Ina nung drawerhavingaseries ofparnf tions, the combinationof' alongitudinal guide channellying in a Vertical plane, distancing'elementsslidable in said channel, said distancing.

elements comprising blocks which are engaged along their' sides,- topand; bottom by the guide channel so as to permit sliding movement onlyofmsaid blocks, and Yabutlrnents projectingVK hor-V izontally from aside of said blocks for engage ment with the sidewalls of the Vdrawerpartitions,

said abutments beingpivotally supported by the blocks forrotatio-n aboutVa. horizontal axis at right angles tothe side of the blocks. Y Y

2. In a filing drawer` having a series ofr partitions, theccrnbinationrof guide means, distanc-` *fzing elementsl slidablein Vsaid'guide means, said distancing elements comprising blocks which are Yengaged along their sides, top and bottom by the` guideme'ansso as topermit sliding movement of said blocks only, and slotted abutmentsprojecting horizontally froma side of said blocks, said slots receivingthe side walls of Ythe drawer par-f titions.

LUIGI LOMBARDINI. I

